Damian Lillard is the latest athlete to speak out in response to Los Angeles Sparks star Nneka Ogwumike’s snub from the USA 2020 Tokyo Olympic women’s basketball team. The NBA All-Star took to Twitter on Wednesday night and said that “they doin Nneka Ogwumike dirty smh.”
They doin Nneka Ogwumike dirty smh
— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) June 24, 2021
Ogwumike’s omission from Team USA’s roster was a shock to basketball fans. The 6’2 forward was the MVP of the 2020 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, was one of eight athletes invited to Team USA’s college tour against top-10 NCAA programs in 2019, won gold medals at the 2014 and 2018 FIBA World Cups, and has been one of the WNBA’s biggest stars for the last decade. She’s the only former WNBA MVP to not make an Olympic roster.
Lillard is part of a long list to call out Ogwumike’s cut, including her former teammate Candace Parker, sister Erica, teammate and sister Chiney, head coach Derek Fisher, Hall of Fame inductee Lisa Leslie, and former WNBA player Devereaux Peters.
Candace Parker shared her candid thoughts about Nneka being snubbed by Team USA 😳😳 via @DougFeinberg pic.twitter.com/WZvvb9mrhx
— Chris Williamson (@CWilliamson44) June 23, 2021
“Of course I’ve reached out to Nneka,” Parker said. “I think that there’s a number of women that are deserving. That’s not taking away from anyone on the team. Shoutout to Chelsea Gray for being the point guard. I was so excited that they didn’t mess that up, and put her on the team because she’s one of the best guards in the entire world. There’s a number of players that are deserving. I mean, when you’re the United States, you could field a first, second and third team and probably win gold, silver, and bronze. At the same time, I know there’s a lot of deserving women, but how many times are we going to say it’s unfair, right? How many times are we going to say that it’s not politics? I think we all know that. I hit Nneka, I was like ‘Listen, it sucks. It’s unfair. All that. Blah, blah, blah. You’re one of the greats. You’re the only MVP not to make the Olympic team.’ Which is bullsh*t. But that’s what it is, right? That’s why I’m commentating in Tokyo.”
Nneka’s return to play was well before the Olympics, that’s not the reason. 🤷🏾♀️ https://t.co/OqLq7vd8RD
— Erica Ogwumike (@ericaogwumikee) June 21, 2021
✔️WNBA MVP & Champion in 2016 (last Olympic year)
✔️6x All-Star
✔️4x All-WNBA
✔️4x WNBA All-Defensive Team
✔️2x FIBA World Cup Gold Medalist
✔️ No. 1 pick & ROY
✔️Euroleague Champion
✔️WNBPA President
✔️oh, and she is one of few who went to every Team USA camp the last 5 years pic.twitter.com/iEzDduj4Kj— Chiney Ogwumike (@chiney) June 21, 2021
She is beyond deserving! I'm not sure who's responsible but I just know it's not right! @nnekaogwumike deserved to make that team period! https://t.co/HygdX5Sm2E
— Lisa Leslie (@LisaLeslie) June 24, 2021
Coach Derek Fisher does not mince words, saying the @LASparks organization is “p*ssed” about @nnekaogwumike’s omission from U.S. Olympic team. Says the chance that she might go her career without playing for Team USA [ in Olympics ] is a “freaking travesty.”
— Michael Voepel (@MAVoepel) June 22, 2021
Okay so let's talk about bum ass USA Basketball….I'm going to preface this by saying I am happy for the players that made it and I have no issues with them whatsoever. They work their butts off for that opportunity and each of them deserves their moment…..
— Devereaux *casual fan* Peters (@MsPeters14) June 21, 2021